Wilkes County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,328 deer in Wilkes County in the 2025-26 season: 1,859 antlered bucks and 1,337 does (NCWRC). That is 4.4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 12th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 12% above 2024-25 (2,968). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 4,580 in 2007-08.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Wilkes CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,328 (1,859 antlered bucks, 132 antlerless males, 1,337 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.4, 46th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.14 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,211 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 4,580 in 2007-08 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern CWD Management Area (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Mountain; N. Mountain unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 26 deer |
| Land area | 753.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 5 game lands, 9,712 acres |
| Towns | North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro and Ronda |
How many deer are killed in Wilkes County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 3,211; the most was 3,596 in 2020-21 and the fewest 2,736 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 17% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,328 | 4.4 |
| 2024-25 | 2,968 | 3.9 |
| 2023-24 | 2,853 | 3.8 |
| 2022-23 | 2,736 | 3.6 |
| 2021-22 | 3,445 | 4.6 |
| 2020-21 | 3,596 | 4.8 |
| 2019-20 | 3,512 | 4.7 |
| 2018-19 | 3,398 | 4.5 |
| 2017-18 | 3,438 | 4.6 |
| 2016-17 | 2,840 | 3.8 |
How the last 2 seasons' deer were taken, and where:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does | Gun | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands | Other land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,859 | 132 | 1,337 | 2,378 | 555 | 189 | 206 | 26 | 3,302 |
| 2024-25 | 1,712 | 100 | 1,156 | 2,151 | 506 | 159 | 152 | 28 | 2,940 |
Sources: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county. Per square mile uses the county's 753.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Wilkes County in 2026-27?
Wilkes County is in NCWRC's Northwestern CWD Management Area deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Special early season | Aug. 22 to 23, 2026 | As listed |
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 |
Source: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27. On game lands, the game land's hunting days also apply.
Where is the public hunting land in Wilkes County?
| Game land | Acres in Wilkes County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Thurmond Chatham Game Land | 6,288 | 17 |
| Kings Creek Game Land | 1,276 | 9 |
| Little Fork State Forest Game Land | 1,270 | 1 |
| Kerr Scott Game Land | 521 | 8 |
| Buffalo Cove Game Land | 357 | 14 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on NCWRC game land boundaries, U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Wilkes County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
| Alexander County | Northwestern | 1,255 | 4.8 | 82% |
| Alleghany County | Northwestern | 2,585 | 11 | 44% |
| Ashe County | Northwestern | 2,793 | 6.6 | 3% |
| Caldwell County | Western | 1,668 | 3.5 | 140% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 5.8 | 39% |
| Watauga County | Northwestern | 2,142 | 6.9 | 44% |
| Yadkin County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 2,099 | 6.3 | 40% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wilkes County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,328 deer taken in Wilkes County in the 2025-26 season: 1,859 antlered bucks, 132 antlerless males and 1,337 does. 2,378 were taken with a gun, 555 with blackpowder, 189 with a bow and 206 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Wilkes County in 2026-27?
Wilkes County is in the Northwestern CWD Management Area deer zone: special early season Aug. 22 to 23, 2026; archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Wilkes County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Thurmond Chatham Game Land (6,288 acres in the county), Kings Creek Game Land (1,276 acres in the county), Little Fork State Forest Game Land (1,270 acres in the county) and Kerr Scott Game Land (521 acres in the county) in Wilkes County.
Has the deer harvest in Wilkes County gone up or down?
From 2,840 in 2016-17 to 3,328 in 2025-26, 17% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 4,580 in 2007-08.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
- Deer zones and dates: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27.
- Public land: NCWRC game land boundaries; U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Numbers are copied from NCWRC and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
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